HELP! Low framerate, never happened before...

[vampire_lord]

My computer is not really a good one, but in these years of playing and modding SWBFII the framerate was never such a problem.

Toshiba Satellite Laptop A-105 Series
Intel Celeron 1.6 Ghz
Video ATI RADEON (128 MB shared)
1GB RAM (minus 128 for Video)

I know, is not even the best, but I always played with minimal video settings and the only times I got some frameskip was on multiplayer; but just recently even in single player (and even in a test map with little to no props) there is a time when I get a very low framerate for about a minute or so, then it goes away, and then it comes back, one would think is because there are lot of bots concentrating at one point, but it actually never happened before, this is happening with a standard unit count, I have made uber mode tests before with no problem.

Any suggestion aside from upgrading to a better PC? (since I won't be able to to it unless I find a decent job.)

Thanks.

[MercuryNoodles]

Really, I think you answered your own question. I would suggest overclocking as an alternative, but it can get fairly tedious, and you should only do that if you can afford to replace any component damaged by the process.

Edit: I think there may be one other thing you can try. Check how many programs are running in the background, and try to shut down as many as you reasonably can. It's likely that it's just newer software running, resulting in more RAM being "in use" than before.

[[RDH]Zerted]

Defrag your hard drive and check for spyware. If it wasn't slow before and its slow now (and nothing is overheating), then your computer is getting cluttered. Make sure to close anything running that you don't require when running SWBF2. Are you using XFire? That might be causing slow downs.

[vampire_lord]

Thanks, I defragmented the HDD just two weeks ago, that's why I thought it was too weird, no spyware detected either, it might be an update or something from AVAST, anyway, I'll probably just wipe and reinstall sooner than I thought, although you might want to avoid a "debate", I usually don't use my DVD to play (I wouldn't like to scratch it), and securom has been detecting my backup this time (over the last two wipes it wasn't an issue, I suppose is time to begin putting the original DVD and pray for safety), but anyway, the wipe would be easier to try figuring what other program is running on the background.

Any other suggestions for a future wipe is welcome...

[MercuryNoodles]

If you only use it for the occasional reinstallation, it'll most likely be fine so long as you don't scratch it while handling it. I can still use my original Command and Conquer Gold disks after 12 years, so there's no need to get nervous if you ever need to reinstall.